Superman Returns has flown to the top of the US and Canada box office chart after taking an estimated $52m (£28m) in three days over its opening weekend.

Warner Bros said the film had also achieved the most successful five-day opening in the studio's history.

It has taken $84m (£45m) since last Wednesday, studio estimates suggest.

Early reviews of the film, which cost more than $200m (£108m), have been positive. Directed by Bryan Singer, it stars Brandon Routh and Kevin Spacey.

Fashion magazine satire The Devil Wears Prada, starring Meryl Streep, took second place in the chart with an estimated opening weekend take of $27m (£15m).

Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Exhibitor Relations, told Reuters news agency: "This is a great success story for a film that was basically thought of as a counter-programming move to Superman."

Last weekend's number one film, romantic comedy Click - starring Adam Sandler and Kate Beckinsale - fell to third place, with an estimated weekend gross of $19m (£10m).